14 August 2007

Showing initiative with waste

Auckland City Council's waste minimisation efforts are producing great results according to a report to the Works and Services Committee yesterday.

Councillor Neil Abel, chairperson of the Works and Services Committee, says the council has been working with 170 primary, intermediate and secondary schools on initiatives to educate students about reducing the amount of rubbish sent to landfill.

Initiatives include:

* expanding the WasteWise schools programme - a regional pilot programme, coordinated by the Auckland Regional Council - which aims to reduce waste in schools and communities

* introducing a free kerbside recyclables collection to schools

* supporting composting in schools through the Fruit in Schools programme

* developing close relationships with schools to encourage waste reduction initiatives, including the Enviroschools awards programme, a national programme that provides incentives for schools to develop waste reduction initiatives. "It's all about being sustainable and creating responsible waste practices in our youth. We have been actively working with schools and students to identify waste management goals and to find creative ways of achieving desired outcomes and managing our impact on the environment," Mr Abel says.

Sixteen Auckland schools are now taking part in the council's WasteWise programme - a programme that encourages schools to consider waste in the broader context of sustainability.

Beginning with a school waste audit, the students design and install action plans to minimise waste through recycling, composting systems, buying policies and litterless lunches.

The council also supports the national Enviroschools programme. Kohimarama's St Thomas Primary School has become Auckland City Council's first fully facilitated Enviroschool and has developed a "vision map" of ideas to implement at the school including paper recycling, a worm farm and an "envirogroup".

Other school initiatives introduced throughout the year were visits to transfer stations to experience the recovery of resources such as wood, cardboard and steel; composting through the Fruit in Schools programme which includes composting workshops and building worm farms; and a free weekly kerbside recycling service with up to five blue bins provided for each school.

"Being 'environmentally sustainable' means putting the right environmental processes and initiatives in place to maintain and enhance people's quality of life today, and into the future," Mr Abel says. "Our council officers have been working with schools to make them fully sustainable by developing environmental education policies and curriculum, strengthening community partnerships and improving the school's physical environment."

"We congratulate the students and schools involved in these waste minimisation initiatives. Not only have students learned new ways to reduce waste, but hopefully they will spread the word to friends and family," Mr Abel says.

ENDS

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